On June 1, the nurses (RNS and LPNs) at Good Samaritan’s Comforcare facility in Austin voted in favor of joining the UFCW Local 1189.

“We are really proud of this great group of nurses who were motivated by their compassion for their residents and their fellow nurses,” said UFCW Local 1189 President Jennifer Christense in a press release. “We hope that Good Samaritan will take this as a wake-up call and really listen to their concerns.”

Nurse Gina Richardson and coworkers, organized around their desire to provide the best possible care for their residents; numerous scheduling issues; and for respect.

“We organized to be a strong voice not only for each other but for the residents as well,” Richardson said in a press release. “Union protection allows us to speak up on their behalf and ensure they receive the best care possible.”

Among the members represented by Local 1189 are the nurses at St. Marks in Austin and employees at Good Samaritan’s Maplewood, Stillwater, and Inver Grove Heights facilities. For more information on UFCW Local 1189 go to www.ufcw1189.org